How to Care For Porcelain Veneers – Tips From a London Dental Expert

Googling “how to care for porcelain veneers” will generate lots of search results offering simple tips and best practices.

However, hearing this from a London-based dental expert who has vast experience in creating and placing porcelain veneers for thousands of patients, means you will get expert advice here. At Sensu, our dental surgeons are leaders in their field ensuring your experience, regardless of which treatment you choose, is comfortable and seamless.

Knowing how to care for porcelain veneers is a question we hear a lot in clinics as people want to make the most of their new smile for as long as possible.

We spoke with Dr Amerjote (Joe) Bansal, Senior Cosmetic and Restorative Dentist at Sensu, who shares his valuable advice on how to look after your veneers, from learning what dental issues they treat, to what foods and drinks to avoid, to knowing which oral hygiene products can ensure long-lasting results.

Let’s get started.

Introduction to Porcelain Veneers

How long do porcelain veneers usually last?

Porcelain veneers usually last for about 10 -15 years on the basis that they’re looked after properly. When we say properly, we mean seeing the hygienist every 4-6 months, brushing your teeth properly at home using an electric toothbrush, using things like floss, TePe brushes, and keeping an eye on using your bespoke retainer or night guard to stop your veneers from chipping or debonding.

How does the longevity of porcelain veneers differ from composite?

The longevity of porcelain veneers versus composite bonding is often longer. Composite bonding can usually last around 5-7 years. Porcelain veneers can usually last around 10 -15 years. This is due to the fact that porcelain veneers are made of highly-pressed porcelain and composite bonding is made from a form of resin.

How does the longevity of porcelain veneers differ from teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a great option for patients where the tooth shapes are really good and all we really need to do is improve the colour. Teeth whitening uses custom-made trays with gels, worn for about 2-3 weeks overnight and the gel can improve your tooth colour for up to 2 years or so. With porcelain veneers, as they’re made from porcelain, the colour is a lot more stable so this tends to last for many years to come.

What issues do porcelain veneers tackle?

Porcelain veneers can help with a number of issues that patients experience when they come into Sensu. So if your teeth are chipped, worn down, if you’ve got gaps in between your teeth, you’re unhappy with the colour, shape, or size, porcelain veneers are a great option for a long-lasting smile.

Porcelain Veneers Tips

What tips do you recommend for patients with veneers?

For all of my patients with porcelain veneers, I always talk about small habits – but doing them regularly. Things like using an electric toothbrush, floss or TePe brushes can make a difference. If you’ve been given a retainer or a night guard, definitely wear that every night to protect them from chipping. And make sure you see the dentist and hygienist every 4-6 months.

Are there any specific products you advise patients to use?

In terms of porcelain veneers and maintenance, one of the number one things I advise is to get an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes will give you a consistent clean really regularly, and that will mean your veneers will last longer because they’re kept cleaner for longer.

Are there any foods/ drinks you advise patients to avoid?

I would imagine that most of my patients will have a normal, regular diet. But the foods which I find can sometimes cause trouble are the ones where it’s soft on the outside, hard on the inside. So we’re talking about things like olives, peaches, plums, because often we bite into these and sometimes catch the edges of our veneers on the hard stone inside.

How important is flossing for veneers?

Porcelain veneers and flossing are best friends and we need to do flossing if you have porcelain veneers. The reason being is that you want to keep the gums as healthy as you can around your veneers, because just as your teeth are really important, the gums that are around the veneers are equally as important, so you need to keep everything nice and clean.

How to Care for Veneers & Prevent Damage

What are the most frequent issues you see with veneers, and how can patients prevent them?

Common issues that we see with porcelain veneers after they’re fitted relates to two areas. One is the gums as if you’re not brushing your teeth properly, using floss, or seeing the hygienist – and you’re doing things like smoking and vaping, sometimes the gums can shrink. When they shrink, it can expose the tooth underneath or the margins around the gums.

The other issue is to do with the veneers themselves. So if you’re maybe clenching or grinding your teeth, your teeth are under a lot more pressure than what they would be normally. Sometimes this leads to things like chips and breaks. The remedy for this is to make sure you brush your teeth properly twice a day, see the hygienist every 4-6 months, and if you are clenching and grinding, the use of a night guard will be beneficial.

Are veneers more prone to chips or cracks?

I suppose the short answer is no, because they’re made from such resilient material. They’re also designed to work with your bite, rather than against it. However, like anything, sometimes these things can happen, whether it’s due to things like clenching or grinding, or sometimes more often than not, if you’ve fallen over. For example if you play contact sports you can sometimes chip and break them. So it’s about protecting them overall.

What should patients do if they notice damage to a veneer?

If you’ve got porcelain veneers and you’ve noticed some damage, there’s two possible things it could be. Sometimes it may be that you find a very superficial crack within the veneers, and in the main, if it’s a very superficial crack and it hasn’t broken and the tooth is still intact, that’s something that can be monitored. It may be a case that the bite isn’t quite right on that tooth.

In other cases, sometimes you may get a fragment or a piece of the veneer breaking off. If that should ever happen, keep it, don’t throw it away. We can sometimes either re-bond that broken fragment back in or use something like composite bonding to repair the broken veneer as a short-term measure.

Can a porcelain veneer be easily replaced?

The short answer is yes – you can repair or replace a porcelain veneer. So if there’s a small break or a chip on the veneer, it can often be replaced or repaired using composite resin. If the chip or break is much bigger, then sometimes we can replace either one of the veneers, or depending on the number of teeth affected (especially in cases where the veneers have been done a number of years ago), it may be better to replace all of them.

Veneer Maintenance & Aftercare Advice

How does smoking or vaping affect veneers?

Smoking and vaping affects the gums that sit around the veneers so you’re more likely to get things like gum disease. Often, this will lead to things like swollen and inflamed gums that may bleed. From another aspect, smoking and vaping may stain your veneers as well. The other issue that we’ve seen more recently is that patients that bite onto their vapes often get chips on the edges. So it’s a big no-no from me.

How often should patients visit their dentist for check-ups after getting veneers?

Patients should see their dentist typically every 6 months to make sure all is well.

Are there any professional treatments or touch-ups that help keep veneers in top condition?

In terms of what professional treatments can keep your porcelain veneers in top condition, the first answer will be to see the hygienist every 4-6 months to help minimise any chips or breaks.

Things like a night guard may be suitable to help prevent that from happening at night. Often when you come and see the dentist after having your veneers fitted, we will check the margins, check the fit, make sure that everything is good, and also check your bite to make sure that everything is working as it should be.

What advice would you give to someone who has just had porcelain veneers?

If you’ve just had your veneers placed, the best advice I can give is to enjoy them! So smile, be full of confidence, and enjoy all the positive things that having porcelain veneers can do for your life.

How to Care For Porcelain Veneers – Tips From a London Dental Surgeon

Caring for your porcelain veneers involves small, consistent habits and the right professional support so you can maintain your results for longer.

At Sensu, we know that visiting the dentist isn’t something most people look forward to. That’s why we focus on making your experience as stress-free as possible. From the moment you step into one of our London clinics, we create a treatment plan that works for you.

We also offer interest-free payment options, making it easier than ever to invest in your new smile. With treatment plans to suit different budgets, you can be sure you’re in safe hands. Since opening our doors in London, we’ve helped nearly 20,000 patients transform their smiles, earning over 2,500 five-star Google reviews from people who trust us with their cosmetic dentistry.

Book your free consultation today and take the first step towards smiling with confidence.